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The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking a declaratory judgment that the 1854 Treaty reserved the Band's right to hunt and fish in the Ceded Territory free of state regulation. The other Bands that signed the treaty and resided in the territory (Fond du Lac, Bois Forte) subsequently joined the lawsuit.

An out of court agreement was negotiated and ultimately ratified by the Minnesota State Legislature:

- crux of the agreement was the band would exercise limited treaty rights in

exchange for a yearly monetary payment.

- the agreement outlines what band members can and can't do

off-reservation. Basic crux is no commercialization (spearing, netting, etc.)

The Tri-Band Authority was established to implement the agreement and was governed by a Board of Directors which consisted of the duly elected officials of each of the Grand Portage, Bois Forte, and the Fond du Lac Bands.

Fond Du Lac withdrew from the agreement (any party to the agreement could withdraw with a one (1) year notice).

The Tri-Band Authority became the 1854 Authority and continued to implement the agreement for the Grand Portage and Bois Forte Bands.

The 1854 Authority became the 1854 Treaty Authority (name change only)

The 1854 Treaty Authority continues to implement the agreement. We currently have eleven (11) full time employees and our organization consists of an Administrative Division, an Enforcement Division, and a Resource Management Division.